Just when we thought the terrible past was behind and we had done so well last season under Rafa Benitez to come straight back to the Premier League, things have started to fall apart a little.

We have only one win in the last 11 games and one point from the last 21 played for – one of the worst runs ever by Newcastle in the Premier League.

It is also the worst run Rafa has had in his management career, and the Chronicle is reporting it is now uncharted territory for him.

We do have all our 26 players in the first team squad now fit, but it’s going to be a tough game on Wednesday night at home to Everton who drew with Liverpool 1-1 yesterday at Anfield – a terrific result.

They now have two wins and a draw in their first three games under new manager Sam Allardyce.

Newcastle are now in 16th place just two places and two points above the relegation zone.

Rafa Benitez – uncharted territory

This is what Rafa has said about the situation:

“At the start of September you could see it could be a difficult season. I’ve said that all along, unfortunately.”

“The only way you can change things is by working harder and better. Yes, for sure, I think we can do it and stay up.”

“But it depends on the other teams. If they have two or three chances and they take two of them, then you will suffer.”

“We have to create more chances if possible and not give them so many.”

“We have to do it, I have to keep going because I see how hard the players work, how hard they train every day so it’s just a question of cutting out the mistakes.”

“Sometimes you make mistakes and you are not punished, but every mistake seems to be a goal we concede.”

“I can only concentrate on preparing the team for the next game, that is it.”

“People were very disappointed, it’s not easy when you lose a game at home when the atmosphere was as good as that.”

“The way that we lost the game, it is hard.”

“What I said before and I will say it again, the only way is for players, supporters, staff and everyone to stick together.”

“It is not the time to make excuses, it is the time to analyze what is going on and improve quickly.”

“I think the supporters are smart, they have known since day one that it is going to be a tough season and now it is just a question of realizing it is going to be like this.”

“I think the supporters appreciate the players’ effort but it is difficult, when you lose another game, to try and explain everything.”

“But this team is working so hard, it is trying so hard to win games.

“We are reacting in the right way when things are going wrong, but we have to learn to manage the situation.”

“We are still making a lot of mistakes and it is quite difficult for everybody.”

“All we can do is keep working harder.”

Here’s where we stand in the table.

Pos

Team

Games

GD

Points

8

Everton

38

-14

49

9

Leicester

38

-4

47

10

Newcastle

38

-8

44

11

Crystal Palace

38

-10

44

12

Bournemouth

38

-16

44

13

West Ham

38

-20

42

The future of Newcastle depends on our staying up this season – so let’s keep supporting the team and Rafa as much as we can.

The easy target here is the manager. We’ve seen it all before under Pardew. A run of poor results and there are calls for the manager to go. We should never forget the culprit now is, and has always been, our illustrious owner, Mike miserly Ashley. OK, Rafa can be accused of playing certain players, and not playing others, but the fact is he has a squad of mediocre players to juggle around with when compared with the squads he is coming up against in this division. It’s always been a question of a lack of investment by the owner, and should we get relegated again this season,(I don’t think we will, by the way), the fingers should be pointed fairly and squarely at none other than Mike Ashley.

Getting something from the Everton game is looking vital, Away to Arsenal on Saturday followed by the Hammers also away , tough games no gimmes in the PL. Lascelles and Dummy back with Atsu back on song should help with the back end of December. The 2 Man City games just 4 weeks apart is daunting. It has been decades since Rafa has had this kind of challenge.

I don’t think we will go down. We now have a fully fit squad. Our slump started when we Lost Lascelles and Atsu. The defence looks tight when Lascelles is organising things. I think Rafa needs to stop tinkering and revert back to what was successful a few months ago.

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health update

My latest bone scans and CAT scans were completed this week and I met with my oncologist Dr. Dhruva to go over the results.

The stage four cancer remains stabilized and hasn't spread over the last six months.

I was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer in early 2017 after being in remission for six years.

There is no cure for stage 4 cancer - but there are treatments which attempt to prolong life.

I am upbeat with the results and remain in awe of the doctors and nurses at the Rex Cancer Center here in Raleigh, North Carolina

It's truly humbling to see how inspiring they are with their patients.

Ed Harrison

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